The facts I am stating are not even a question of IF but a question of WHEN the batteries fail, that the user will have to take their Macbook to an Apple Store.
This is not a mortal tragedy. In fact, it's quicker than mailing the notebook off to a processing plant and not having access to it for a month.
If that weren’t bad enough, you have to leave it there unattended with some Apple lackey in a black turtleneck doing God knows what sifting through your data unbeknownst to anyone.
Given that the computer will be turned off due to the battery no longer holding a charge, and the fact that accessing data on the hard drive has absolutely nothing to do with replacing a battery, what exactly are you talking about?
By the way, standard attire for an Apple Store employee is a light blue t-shirt.
I mentioned in an earlier thread I sent in my Presario when the Wifi was recalled I mailed it in (prepaid by Compaq) and it was delivered back to be me within 7 days including weekends. They called me to ask if I wanted to buy a new battery but I laughed when they said it was $130 before tax. I was paranoid they had my computer so I swapped my old HD back in the laptop, did a low level format to remove any trace of my data and then did a system restore to bring back a black drive back to factory new condition. I trust no one with my data in their hands.
You make it sound like it is impossible for an Apple tech to plug in an AC adapter on a Macbook Pro with a drained battery. You don't think those guys are snooping on peoples computers? Don't be so naive... I've heard horror stories from Geek Squad and ex Circuit City Foxdog employees.